EST 2012
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ALL YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS
Floral and decor can go in a million different directions - florals can be large, small, full, sparse, loose, tight, in-season, out of season, pale, dark, and everything in between. It's important to understand the process that we go through to make sure you get the design that you want for your wedding. So here are some of the most frequently asked questions to give you a little insight on where to start!
What's the difference between wedding floral and design and wedding planning?
Wedding floral and design is more focused on the aesthetic elements of the wedding - the colours, the feel, the overall look of your reception and ceremony. Not just related to decor, but also making sure that the little details are infused just right into the whole event. Planning is the logistical part of the wedding process, not only focused on wedding design, but also ensuring that your venue, your vendors and your budget is also in check (of course, among other things). We like to say that planners are more holistic to the process, and designers are more specific to the decor, floral and look. Here at Envision Weddings and Envision Floral Studio, we do offer combo packages although both services are priced separately.
What kind of packages do you offer? Can you just give me basic/standard pricing for flowers?
Every package is customized to the client, and pricing is dependent on several different factors - season, style, colour, location, theme, size, quantity and so forth. So it would be more beneficial if our clients send us photos of what they like or are thinking of, along with some basic details like quantity and colour palette so we could start to put together a customized proposal. We offer a wide range of options and can provide lots of suggestions for different types of flowers in order to remain on budget as well.
How does the process work?
At our initial consultation, we usually pull inspiration for you from a bunch of different places - Pinterest, a swatch of fabric, etc. - and begin to build on the overall theme based on the ideas you have and the budget you are able to put forth. Floral and decor is largely budget-based, so we will make suggestions on how to keep things reasonable; however, we give our clients a fair warning that most florals are imported and therefore come at certain costs. After we have narrowed down what exactly you're looking for, we go ahead and prepare a proposal with pricing. This is sent to you within 24-48 hours, with photos attached as part of the inspiration and as a reference point. Once this has been approved (and adjustments are made) then a deposit needs to be placed to secure the date. Then we will contact you about 2 months prior to the wedding date to book your centerpiece mock-up meeting where we will look at adjusting any design elements and review the proposal once again. At this point, a second payment is made after the proposal is adjusted again. The final payment is then made 10 days prior to the event, when your final numbers are submitted to us and any final adjustments are made to the order.
If you prefer to see a mockup prior to booking with us, we can certainly arrange this at an extra cost.
Do you include delivery, set up and teardown with your services?
We include the cost of delivery, setup and teardown with our proposals unless you otherwise request we don't. Delivery and setup is strongly advised, as there is a logistical element involved and we as the professionals understand the ins and outs of delivering in various venues (i.e. load in, load out, size of vehicles, etc.) Please bear in mind that some rental items have mandatory delivery, setup and teardown fees due to the fragility and nature of the product.
Personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages) can be easily picked up on the day of the wedding if you prefer to save on costs.
We don't have an exact vision in mind when it comes to venue, design, or overall theme. Can you help with this?
Yes! We pride ourselves in being wedding designers as well as planners. Designers look at the overall event and create something that combines all elements of the event - not just logistics, but look, feel, palette, and theme. While we appreciate having a base to work off of, we can certainly conjure inspiration and create something brand new.
What if I don't know my final guest count at the time of creating the proposal?
We get that things may change closer to the wedding date so the final numbers are not due until 10 days prior to the wedding and quantities can be adjusted until that point. Usually our proposals are based on average quantity (i.e. 200 guests = 20 tables).
I can't decide between two colour palettes. How long do I have to figure this out?
We give the freedom of our clients to change anything design-related after booking and up until the mock-up meeting - which is generally scheduled 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding. We do have some flexibility with this too - as long as you don't change the colours on us less than a month before the wedding, we should be good!
What happens if something breaks or flowers die before delivery?
We usually budget in and purchase a little extra product, on our dime, to ensure that we have a buffer in the case of emergency. Florals are products that generally have a time limit, so we understand that we may have to fix things last minute, even though we take all the appropriate measures to make sure that doesn't happen. If there is breakage on the way to delivery, we will be sure to replace it prior to setup at no extra charge to you. However, once we have left the venue, the product is in your care and we do assess damage to rental items (i.e. vases) upon teardown.
Can I provide my own vases?
We have created some absolutely beautiful pieces in vessels that were provided by our clients. So yes, this is possible! We only request that vases get dropped off to us at least 4 days prior to the wedding and 2 days before your mock up meeting, and if you could provide us with measurements we could work to provide you with the most accurate quote possible. If you don't choose this route, we can certainly suggest vases we can get for you or is in stock.
Can you sell florals to me so I could put them together myself?
We are set up more like a retail florist vs. a wholesale floral company, so you can certainly purchase blooms from us, but unfortunately, we can't offer wholesale prices. We also can provide quantity suggestions based on what you are creating. As well, we cannot claim responsibility for the quality of product as soon as it leaves our our studio as we can only speak for our own preservation practices to ensure that the product arrives on the event day as fresh as possible.
Can you set up other elements for me like my receiving table, DIY decor and so forth?
For any additional set up outside of the florals and decor you have booked with us, there is usually a charge and set up fee, but we can be flexible depending on how large of a package you book with us. So let's discuss!
Do you charge for an initial consultation?
We certainly do not charge for the first initial, "get to know you" meeting! Subsequent meetings that delve deeper into the planning may conjure a fee, but this is a case-by-case basis.
What should I bring to my initial appointment?
Pictures, your budget, any details you can give us regarding your vision, and an open mind! We can't wait to meet you!
And does it just stop at florals?
There's no stopping with what's possible! Check out our portfolio to see what else we can do for you.
Don't see a question here and would like that answered? Feel free to reach out to us and we will get back to you with lightning speed!